Melba gets moving with Molly Moo

Joel Helm, a Melba kindergartener, follows Molly Moo along with other students during follow the leader in preparation of the annual one-mile fun run. Photo by Jill Richardson

By Jill Richardson

Kuna Melba News reporter

Molly Moo the cow visited the Melba High School track on Thursday, Sept. 13 to lead hundreds of children and their families through a fun-filled fitness evening.

Melba PTA encourages fitness and activity with the Molly Moo Fun Run for K-6 students each year.

“This is our fourth year; last year we had about 150-200 participants,” said Michelle VanSchoiack, one of the fun run’s original organizers. “It’s a really fun event for our elementary students.”

Kids warm up with Molly Moo before taking off for their mile run around the school property, finishing at the track.

Warming up was easy to do with the limbo, chicken dance, hokey pokey, and follow the leader, and the Melba dance team and cheerleaders joined in the warm-ups to help pump up the excitement.

Melba PTA representatives said they appreciate sponsors like Southern Idaho Electric and United Dairymen of Idaho.

With assistance from those sponsors, the fun run was free and the PTA is able to provide milk, cheese and pretzels to the participants while promoting an evening of fitness.

Families that purchased shirts were eligible for raffle prizes like games and Nerf guns.

Zane Helm, fourth grader at Melba Elementary, was first to cross the fun run finish line. Helm says that he has finished first all three years that he has run it.

“We are going to have to recruit him for the track team,” said Julie Trappett, a parent spectator.

When asked about their feelings about the fun, most children responded, “good,” “tiring,” or “I’m tired.”

Melba PTA and parents support this event so much that the original organizers, Michelle VanSchoiack, Teri Aldrich and Stephanie Hansen, who are not actually on the PTA anymore, continue to organize the event to ensure its success each year.